By Sandy Rodriguez
BaroQco is a brand that offers handmade art-jewelry from Europe. As the word implies, its pieces are created in a unique baroque style. The founders are Eduardo and Imelda Liem, a talented husband-and-wife team. They wish to portray the deepest essence of female beauty to the world. They do so by designing timeless high-end jewelry.
Photo courtesy of Eduardo Liem
In 2002, Eduardo proposed to Imelda. During the wedding preparations, he felt the desire to veil her with the most beautiful jewelry in the world. To make that dream come true, they traveled the world. It was in Paris that they unexpectedly found themselves walking through Place Vendôme. There, they were struck by love for exquisite jewelry. A burning desire arose; they wanted to express their powerful creative energy and share it with people who would like to experience the very feelings they felt at that special place in France.
The couple decided that instead of buying jewelry, they would develop their own, and BaroQco was born. Eduardo was kind enough to share information about the brand with our Heart of Hollywood Magazine readers.
What is a day of work like for you?
We come up with a dose of creative input to make extraordinary designs for future shows. But currently, because of the COVID situation, our daily work also involves thinking about how we can still express our creativity to our audience without having shows physically.
Why did you decide to establish a jewelry house?
My wife and I founded the business together, from nothing. It all started one sunny day in Paris, at the Place Vendôme. We were looking for a tiara or crown for our wedding day. At that time, there were not many options available. So we decided to create our own tiara, which led others to ask whether we could also make necklaces and earrings.
Where was the house founded and where are the current headquarters?
The house or La Maison de BaroQco was founded in 2003, but was entered officially as a brand in 2010 in Amstelveen, near the City of Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. The headquarters still remain at the same location.
How would you describe BaroQco jewelry?
In order to describe it properly, it is important to understand what the name stands for. The word BaroQco comes from baroque, an era of change from simplicity to lively and exuberant detail. And the Co in the name is derived from my father’s former company, Japarco (Java Parfurmes Company) With the Co in BaroQco, the legacy continues. The word BaroQco stands out. We wish to surprise and to create a sense of awe by being different.
To be different is to be unique, and by being unique, you are different.
Who is the woman who wears BaroQco, what is she like? Is there a specific muse?
The woman who wears BaroQco is a woman who knows that shining and being daring are parts of life you have to experience to let your inner beauty be seen. Some never dare and never shine. We at BaroQco give them the incentive they need to buy their first BaroQco piece and begin to dare and to shine so that they will reflect their inner beauty. Women’s empowerment comes from believing in yourselves and allowing yourselves to shine.
The face of BaroQco, the muse of BaroQco, is an independent woman who strives to be a prominent yet gentle person in the way she acts and behaves. The muse of BaroQco is the founder of the brand, the versatile Imelda Liem. The entrepreneur, the equestrienne, and part-time model.
Please describe some of the pieces or collections currently available.
BaroQco, before COVID, had been focusing only on Haute Couture. The term Haute Couture is protected by law and is defined in a specific way by the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Paris, based in Paris. The chambre syndicale de la haute couture is the regulating commission that determines which fashion houses are eligible to be true haute couture houses. Their rules state that only “those companies mentioned on the list drawn up each year by a commission domiciled at the Ministry for Industry are entitled to avail themselves” of the label haute couture.
BaroQco is participating in the Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture event as a brand registered in the calendar for the Paris Fashion Week.
Our collections are from the shows in Paris. They consist of extraordinary creations, from a series titled The Rise of the Phoenix to the Royal Mangkunegaran Collection, influenced by the Royal Family of Surakarta, Indonesia. All of our collections are Haute Couture, and the pieces are one-of-a-kind.
During the COVID situation, we had to become more creative and began offering a collection for everyday wear, Genesis 213. It is still handmade and nickel- free, and includes genuine Swarovski Crystals and Bohemian art stones.
You can find our complete collections at www.baroqco. com , and some items for daily wear are exclusively at the Heart Of Hollywood web shop.
What are some important runways, events or publications that have featured BaroQco jewelry? The most important runway for Haute Couture is in Paris, there is no other one in the world, as Haute Couture is protected by law and officially exists only in Paris. If you are in fashion, this is like the Walhalla or the Mecca where one needs to be. This is the place to find Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, and others houses, like BaroQco. Prior to COVID, BaroQco had participated with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter collections.
As to publications, there have been many. For BaroQco, it was very important to have been mentioned in L’Officiel, as this magazine sets trends for jewelry. It was important to have also been in other top magazines around the world, such as Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Collezioni, Amica, Madame Figaro, Livid and Richard Magazine.
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What materials are used most frequently in BaroQco pieces?
BaroQco is defined as art jewelry, not fine jewelry using diamonds and precious stones. We differ from fine jewelry by using a palette of different colors in our creations. That makes each item of jewelry come to life and turns every creation into a masterpiece. Our love for master painters such as Vincent van Gogh and Pierre-Auguste Renoir inspire us, yet the style we use for our creations is baroque, and we express uniqueness through details. To create such extraordinary masterpieces, we use the best, and that would be Swarovski Crystals in combination with
Bohemian art stones that are created by the best art glass manufacturer in the world.
The metal base and plating are nickel-free. Under European Union law, jewelry is not allowed to contain nickel. BaroQco also strives to be eco-friendly and is the official crown maker for Miss Eco International.
What is the new personal styling service? What about the custom design service?
Most of our clients know what they want, but do not know how to match certain items of jewelry with a dress. Through our personal service, we offer styling tips to make pairing accessories with clothing easier. If a client needs a specific one-of-a kind piece, perhaps for a party or other special event, our custom design service allows us to design concepts and create this type of jewelry. The process involves determining a concept, followed by design, color selection and, finally, production.
What advice would you give to someone who is starting a jewelry collection. What should they buy, select or do?
For starters, that they buy their first BaroQco piece. We have two special types of earrings in the Genesis Collection at the Heart Of Hollywood web shop. One is a daily wear earring that you can use for any occasion. The second one is an Haute Couture earring derived from our latest Paris Fashion Week show, from Kraton, the Royal Collection.
Is jewelry only for special occasions or would you suggest incorporating it into our everyday look? When a woman is BaroQconized, that lady reflects her inner beauty and will wear the BaroQco piece on any occasion, be it to the shopping mall, a birthday party, a pool party, a wedding, or whatever the case may be. On our website, you can find a variety of styling tips for every occasion.
I understand you will take part in the Heart Of Hollywood Virtual Red Carpet to be held in November.
We at BaroQco are proud to be a part of it by selecting designers from around the world who could take part in this event and donate their show for COVID relief.
In this terrible time, we, especially those in fashion and art, have to stand together and unite nations and people for a common cause, and that is love. Through her platform, Heart of Hollywood CEO Giovanna Salas gives international designers exposure. They can showcase their collections, inspire people around the world, and send out the message that united we stand against COVID.
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